Swami Saswathikananda was president of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust. Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, is an organization of the saint-disciples of Sree Narayana Guru and was established by Sree Narayana Guru to propagate his concept of ‘One Caste, One Religion, One God'. Swami Saswathikananda was former spritual head of the Sivagiri Mutt at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram. He drowned in the Periyar River at Aluva on the morning of 1 July 2002.
Early Days
Swami Saswathikananda was born in an ordinary Ezhava family in Kuthumkalumoodu, Manacadu in Thiruvananthapuram in 1952. His pre-ashram name was Sasidharan. He was the eldest son of Sri. Chellapan of Pazhanchira Kayikara family. His mother, Smt. Kausalya hailed from Varkala. Sasidharan had two brothers and sisters. He came to Sivagiri in his childhood itself. His mother, Smt. Kausalya's father's eldest brother, Swami Kumarananda was a close disciple of Sree Narayana Guru. Later, he became the president of Dharma Sangam Trust. Sasidharan's took his education at Sivagiri. Along with his schooling at Sivagiri School, Sasidharan also worked as priest in the Sharada Mutt. By 15, he had mastered the Upanishads and Gurudeva literature
The formative years
During his priesthood at Sarada Mutt itself, the saints of the Sivagiri Mutt noticed the spiritual qualities of this active boy. After passing out SSLC from the Sivagiri school, he became an inmate of the Sri Rama Krishna Ashram at Puranattukara. Sasidharan was a pet of Swami Eshwarananda, the then President of the Ashram. From there he reached the abode of Thriprayar Yogini Amma. He returned to Sivagiri by the advice of Yogini Amma. Sasidharan first passed Pre Degree course and then joined for B A at the Sivagiri S N College. During his third year, in 1972, the Bhrama Vidyalaya was started in Sivagiri. He joined the Vidyalaya in the first batch.
He completed the seven-year Bhrama Vidya education under the guidance of eminent Sanskrit scholar, H M Shastrikal and language expert, Prof. E V Damodaran. He was considered as a brilliant and diligent student. This course opened the doors to the intricate world Sanskrit and the enlightened world of Gurudeva darshan. After education, for over one and a half years, he wandered around holy places in the Himalayas. After returning to Sivagiri, he was bestowed with sainthood from the president of the Dharma Sangom Trust, Swami Bhramandanda in 1977. From then on, he was known as Swami Saswathikananda. Later, he became Dharma Sangom Trust member, general secretary and then president. It was during this period he became noticed at the national level.
His Mission
Swami Saswathikananda engaged in the sacred mission of spreading Sree Narayana Guru’s lofty ideals of ‘Mathatheetha Adhyatmikata’ and ‘Viswamanavikatha’ both in the native land and abroad. ‘Mathatheetha Adhyatmikata’ is spirituality transcending religions. ‘Viswamanavikatha’ is oneness of all mankind. He was also engaged in the unification of all movements in vogue in the name of Sree Narayana Guru. His deep knowledge and dexterity in popularizing Guru Devan’s teachings were unique.Swami Saswathikananda sought to propagate Guru Deva’s teachings through the services of Guru Dharama Pracharana Sabha throughout Kerala. His activities in this regard were not only confined to Kerala but also extended to other states of India and to foreign countries such as Sri Lanka, Singapore, Middle East Gulf countries and up to USA. Swami Saswathikananda had left the imprints of his personality over the social, educational, cultural and organizational spheres of our state.Swami Saswathikananda was the spiritual force behind bringing Shri. Vellapalli Natesan to the leadership of SNDP Yogam and giving him moral strength and guidance.
Spiritual Leader-cum-Statesman
As a spiritual leader he has proved his indomitable courage, ability and statesmanship. The period of his Presidentship of the Sivagiri Dharma Sanghom Trust witnessed several epoch making achievements. In Kerala power politics, two main power blocs, the left and the right, the LDF and the UDF usually come to power in alternate terms. Swami Saswathikananda kept good relations with both the blocs whether in power or on the Opposition. This policy yielded visible benefits to the Dharma Sanghom Trust. One major achievement is the establishment of Viswa Samskara Bhavan. Swami Saswathikananda could persuade Shri.K. Karunakran, the then Chief Minister of Kerala to allot to Sivagiri Mut free of cost 50 cents of land in the heart of the Capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, within the compound of Kanakakunnu Palace, overlooking the Museum. In this plot Swami Saswathikananda constructed Viswa Samskara Bhavan and got it inaugurated by Shri. Venkataraman, President of India. Several landed properties and prominent buildings owned by the Mut were lost hold of into the hands of some powerful magnates of the locality. Swamiji reclaimed and re-annexed these properties to the Mut by legal action.
Sivagiri Police Action and his withdrawal
The inglorious Sivagiri police action of October 11, 1995 was during Swami Saswathikananda’s regime as President. Power was taken over by the rival group of Swamies on the strength of a court order implemented by police action. During their period the Sivagiri Mutt and its invaluable properties valuing crores were on the brink of slipping into the hands of religious fundamentalists dominated by semi-militant groups. Sensing this dire threat Swami Saswathikananda , though not in power, persuaded the then Government of the Left Front with Shri.E.K.Nayanar as Chief Minister to take over the administration of Sivagiri Dharma Sanghom Trust as per provisions of the Trust Scheme formulated by the Honorable High Court of Kerala. The deteriorating law and order situation and misrule prevailing at that time in the Mut warranted and justified Government action. An advisory Board consisting of Sanyasies. Leaders of S.N.D.P Yogam, S.N Trust and Honorable public was constituted for the interim administration of the Mut and prepare a voter’s list of eligible Sanyasies as per rules laid down by the Honorable High Court. By the approval of the High Court to this list a new governing body known as Trust Executive was elected from the Sanyasies to administer the Mut and various Muts and institutions under it. Though Swami Saswathikananda’s timely and untiring endeavor was the guiding force in bringing about this welcome conclusion, he did not involve himself in the governing body constituted by his effort.
His death
At the age 52, in July 2002 Swami Saswathikananda, was drowned in the Periyar River at Aluva. He was swept away while taking bath at the Adwaitashram Ghat. Swami Saswathikananda, who had arrived at the Advaitashramam at Aluva to attend the director board meeting of Sivagiri Mutt, had gone to the river and the tragedy occurred around 9.20am. Fire-force personnel said that Swami Saswathikananda was alive when they took him out from the river. However, doctors could not save his life after he was rushed to a hospital at Aluva. Ashram sources said the Swami had gone to take bath along with two disciples. However, he sent the two back saying he would return soon. The disciples standing on the bank of the river raised an alarm when they could not spot the Swami for a long time. They alerted the fire force personnel and the Ashram authorities. The death of Saswathikananda, who had returned from an extensive tour of Gulf countries along with Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) general-secretary Vellapally Natesan, came as a big shock to his followers.
jai gurudev.
http://www.gurudevan.info/forum/swami-saswathikananda-a-spiritual-moral-for-generations-t399.html
Early Days
Swami Saswathikananda was born in an ordinary Ezhava family in Kuthumkalumoodu, Manacadu in Thiruvananthapuram in 1952. His pre-ashram name was Sasidharan. He was the eldest son of Sri. Chellapan of Pazhanchira Kayikara family. His mother, Smt. Kausalya hailed from Varkala. Sasidharan had two brothers and sisters. He came to Sivagiri in his childhood itself. His mother, Smt. Kausalya's father's eldest brother, Swami Kumarananda was a close disciple of Sree Narayana Guru. Later, he became the president of Dharma Sangam Trust. Sasidharan's took his education at Sivagiri. Along with his schooling at Sivagiri School, Sasidharan also worked as priest in the Sharada Mutt. By 15, he had mastered the Upanishads and Gurudeva literature
The formative years
During his priesthood at Sarada Mutt itself, the saints of the Sivagiri Mutt noticed the spiritual qualities of this active boy. After passing out SSLC from the Sivagiri school, he became an inmate of the Sri Rama Krishna Ashram at Puranattukara. Sasidharan was a pet of Swami Eshwarananda, the then President of the Ashram. From there he reached the abode of Thriprayar Yogini Amma. He returned to Sivagiri by the advice of Yogini Amma. Sasidharan first passed Pre Degree course and then joined for B A at the Sivagiri S N College. During his third year, in 1972, the Bhrama Vidyalaya was started in Sivagiri. He joined the Vidyalaya in the first batch.
He completed the seven-year Bhrama Vidya education under the guidance of eminent Sanskrit scholar, H M Shastrikal and language expert, Prof. E V Damodaran. He was considered as a brilliant and diligent student. This course opened the doors to the intricate world Sanskrit and the enlightened world of Gurudeva darshan. After education, for over one and a half years, he wandered around holy places in the Himalayas. After returning to Sivagiri, he was bestowed with sainthood from the president of the Dharma Sangom Trust, Swami Bhramandanda in 1977. From then on, he was known as Swami Saswathikananda. Later, he became Dharma Sangom Trust member, general secretary and then president. It was during this period he became noticed at the national level.
His Mission
Swami Saswathikananda engaged in the sacred mission of spreading Sree Narayana Guru’s lofty ideals of ‘Mathatheetha Adhyatmikata’ and ‘Viswamanavikatha’ both in the native land and abroad. ‘Mathatheetha Adhyatmikata’ is spirituality transcending religions. ‘Viswamanavikatha’ is oneness of all mankind. He was also engaged in the unification of all movements in vogue in the name of Sree Narayana Guru. His deep knowledge and dexterity in popularizing Guru Devan’s teachings were unique.Swami Saswathikananda sought to propagate Guru Deva’s teachings through the services of Guru Dharama Pracharana Sabha throughout Kerala. His activities in this regard were not only confined to Kerala but also extended to other states of India and to foreign countries such as Sri Lanka, Singapore, Middle East Gulf countries and up to USA. Swami Saswathikananda had left the imprints of his personality over the social, educational, cultural and organizational spheres of our state.Swami Saswathikananda was the spiritual force behind bringing Shri. Vellapalli Natesan to the leadership of SNDP Yogam and giving him moral strength and guidance.
Spiritual Leader-cum-Statesman
As a spiritual leader he has proved his indomitable courage, ability and statesmanship. The period of his Presidentship of the Sivagiri Dharma Sanghom Trust witnessed several epoch making achievements. In Kerala power politics, two main power blocs, the left and the right, the LDF and the UDF usually come to power in alternate terms. Swami Saswathikananda kept good relations with both the blocs whether in power or on the Opposition. This policy yielded visible benefits to the Dharma Sanghom Trust. One major achievement is the establishment of Viswa Samskara Bhavan. Swami Saswathikananda could persuade Shri.K. Karunakran, the then Chief Minister of Kerala to allot to Sivagiri Mut free of cost 50 cents of land in the heart of the Capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, within the compound of Kanakakunnu Palace, overlooking the Museum. In this plot Swami Saswathikananda constructed Viswa Samskara Bhavan and got it inaugurated by Shri. Venkataraman, President of India. Several landed properties and prominent buildings owned by the Mut were lost hold of into the hands of some powerful magnates of the locality. Swamiji reclaimed and re-annexed these properties to the Mut by legal action.
Sivagiri Police Action and his withdrawal
The inglorious Sivagiri police action of October 11, 1995 was during Swami Saswathikananda’s regime as President. Power was taken over by the rival group of Swamies on the strength of a court order implemented by police action. During their period the Sivagiri Mutt and its invaluable properties valuing crores were on the brink of slipping into the hands of religious fundamentalists dominated by semi-militant groups. Sensing this dire threat Swami Saswathikananda , though not in power, persuaded the then Government of the Left Front with Shri.E.K.Nayanar as Chief Minister to take over the administration of Sivagiri Dharma Sanghom Trust as per provisions of the Trust Scheme formulated by the Honorable High Court of Kerala. The deteriorating law and order situation and misrule prevailing at that time in the Mut warranted and justified Government action. An advisory Board consisting of Sanyasies. Leaders of S.N.D.P Yogam, S.N Trust and Honorable public was constituted for the interim administration of the Mut and prepare a voter’s list of eligible Sanyasies as per rules laid down by the Honorable High Court. By the approval of the High Court to this list a new governing body known as Trust Executive was elected from the Sanyasies to administer the Mut and various Muts and institutions under it. Though Swami Saswathikananda’s timely and untiring endeavor was the guiding force in bringing about this welcome conclusion, he did not involve himself in the governing body constituted by his effort.
His death
At the age 52, in July 2002 Swami Saswathikananda, was drowned in the Periyar River at Aluva. He was swept away while taking bath at the Adwaitashram Ghat. Swami Saswathikananda, who had arrived at the Advaitashramam at Aluva to attend the director board meeting of Sivagiri Mutt, had gone to the river and the tragedy occurred around 9.20am. Fire-force personnel said that Swami Saswathikananda was alive when they took him out from the river. However, doctors could not save his life after he was rushed to a hospital at Aluva. Ashram sources said the Swami had gone to take bath along with two disciples. However, he sent the two back saying he would return soon. The disciples standing on the bank of the river raised an alarm when they could not spot the Swami for a long time. They alerted the fire force personnel and the Ashram authorities. The death of Saswathikananda, who had returned from an extensive tour of Gulf countries along with Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) general-secretary Vellapally Natesan, came as a big shock to his followers.
jai gurudev.
http://www.gurudevan.info/forum/swami-saswathikananda-a-spiritual-moral-for-generations-t399.html
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